Louis Henry Mense

Louis Henry Mense was born in Menomonie, Wis. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946 and was commissioned as an officer in 1953. He subsequently served at various assignments, including three commands at sea, among others. After 23 years of service, he retired at the rank of commander. Mense earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Mense joined Coastal Carolina’s administrative staff in 1978, serving as associate director of records, associate director of registration and associate director of admissions. He has provided leadership in a variety of advisory roles and has been instrumental in fundraising efforts as well. Mense continued to serve CCU as a member of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration board of visitors, serving a term as chairman from 1998 to 2000; and he served on the Coastal Educational Foundation beginning in 2001. The Cmdr. Louis “Hank” Mense Hall, located at 105 Chanticleer Drive East, houses CCU’s ROTC program.

Mense served his community and church for many years. In Myrtle Beach, he served as elder and deacon for First Presbyterian Church, president of The Myrtle Beach Rotary Club, and president of the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

He was the president of Emenson LLC, an ownership/management company for warehouse storage facilities serving the Grand Strand area.

He died in April 2017.

Mense was named an honorary founder of Coastal Carolina University in 2010.